Campfire’s octopus, chorizo, and celery-root entrée.
Gage Forster
San Diego, CA
Judge adds protections for San Diego Rodeo animals at Petco Park
A San Diego judge issued a mixed ruling this week in an animal rights lawsuit concerning rodeos staged at Petco Park, finding that pregnant mares should no longer be allowed to compete and that onsite medical equipment must be adequate and “comprehensive” enough to provide care for the large animals.
The 21-page statement of decision issued Tuesday by San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil does not end the rodeos, which have been controversial. The judge noted that the purpose of the suit was to prohibit practices that “allegedly subject the animals to ‘needless suffering’ or ‘unnecessary cruelty.’”
Wohlfeil’s ruling comes after he presided over a bench trial earlier this month. Two animal rights groups had sued C5 Rodeo and the Padres, alleging unfair business practices. The groups pointed to what they said amounted to animal cruelty. Two horses were injured or died following performances at the events.
The judge said that he “largely agrees” with the defendants but found “a limited number of practices” needed to be changed or stopped.
Wohlfeil’s decision noted that between the 2024 and 2025 rodeos, the rodeo management team adjusted the rules to not permit the use of electric prods — which had drawn criticism — and also to bar the use of mares known to be pregnant.
“(H)owever, more can and should be done to minimize the risk of ‘needless suffering’ by or ‘unnecessary cruelty’ to the animals, while, at the same time, preserving the sanctity of the rodeo,” the judge wrote. “It is the balance that the court has strived to accomplish in this (statement of decision).”
He said the two plaintiff groups, Animal Protection Rescue League and Showing Animals Kindness and Respect, met their burden to show a need to address the use of pregnant mares — one died after performing in a 2025 rodeo — and to require the presence of adequate medical equipment, which was not on hand when a horse threw its rider and rammed into a fence in 2024, leaving the animal badly injured. The horse later died.
The judge’s decision also said C5 Rodeo and the Padres issued a “false” press release following the 2024 horse injury.
The parties are due back in court in March for the judge to hear objections, if any, to his decision.
Attorney Bryan Pease, who represented Animal Protection Rescue League and Showing Animals Kindness and Respect, said the judge’s decision was “a definite victory and benefit to the public” as well as for his clients.
“The specific cruelty that was exposed and that occurred at both the 2024 and the 2025 rodeos are going to be prohibited from happening again,” Pease said.
Pease also said it’s “not surprising that the court didn’t kind of go out on a limb and issue a broad sweeping injunction against typical rodeo practices.”
Attorney Michael Healy, who represents C5 Rodeo, said in an email: “We are pleased with the order where it reflects that ‘the Court largely agrees with Defendants’ and C5 Rodeo is grateful San Diegans will continue to have the opportunity to be exposed to rodeo, our western heritage, and ranching traditions.”
A Padres spokesperson declined comment, citing the still-active litigation.
The rodeos at Petco Park, which is largely owned by the city of San Diego, have been controversial, prompting not just litigation but protests from animal rights groups and calls to ban rodeos within the city limits.
Proponents of such events point to their competition, heritage and cultural traditions, and critics say the events can be cruel for the participating animals. An effort a few years ago from City Councilmember Kent Lee to place restrictions — such as banning calf roping, team roping and steer wrestling — failed to generate enough support among fellow council members.
The January 2024 rodeo at Petco Park was the first within the city limits since the 1980s. It has since been an annual event — and, coincidentally, the bench trial (only a judge, no jury) was held in the days leading up to a rodeo C5 staged at Petco in mid-January.
The statement of decision highlights two incidents. The first was in January 2024 when a horse named Waco Kid threw its rider and collided with a wall. It collapsed immediately and stayed down, unable to stand without help.
According to Wohlfeil, some witnesses knew the horse was seriously hurt, including an on-site veterinarian who saw the incident and assumed — correctly — that the animal had fractured its cervical spine. But the equipment on hand was too small to X-ray the horse.
The judge ordered the rodeo management team to provide veterinary care that includes “onsite competent, comprehensive medical equipment” that can “adequately x-ray, scan, diagnose and treat the livestock” regardless of the animal’s size.
“The cost to the rodeo seems to be a small price to pay to avoid a repeat of Waco Kid’s debacle,” he wrote.
Wohlfeil also pointed to a press release issued the day of the incident, which stated: “Initial exam performed by the Veterinarian team did not reveal any obvious signs of fracture or instability.”
The judge said the press release “was false and intended to mislead the public.” He also said it was issued to “minimize the public’s perception” of the horse’s injuries, “knowing, at the same time, that the chances of Waco Kid’s survival were ‘thin.’”
The second incident the judge pointed to was in January 2025, when a 17-year-old mare by the name of Pearl Necklace died shortly after competing in an event. A necropsy determined the mare’s likely cause of death was a ruptured uterus and/or uterine artery, and the horse “appears to have bled out internally,” according to evidence the judge pointed to in his decision.
The judge pushed back on the notion from some trial witnesses who said they either did not know Pearl Necklace was pregnant or was as far along as she was. Wohlfeil wrote that he watched a video of the horse performing at the rodeo, “and even from the Court’s untrained eye, Pearl Necklace was obviously pregnant.”
Wohlfeil found the mare’s death was “both foreseeable and preventable,” and that the mare was subjected to “needless suffering” or “unnecessary cruelty.”
He also said it was not enough for a mare’s owner to declare the horse is not pregnant, and ordered the burden to be on the rodeo management team to verify that no pregnant mares compete in the rodeo.
When John Resnick opened Campfire on a quaint little street in Carlsbad, Calif., in 2016, some locals weren’t sure what to think. The coastal enclave wasn’t exactly awash in innovative, chef-driven establishments, so it was a shock to see the dining room consistently full. Early on, one woman wondered aloud to Resnick, “Where did all these people come from?”
It’s a moment he remembers vividly. “I was struck by her statement, because I think she was surprised that so many other people in Carlsbad were there,” Resnick says.
The rest of the culinary world would take some time to catch up to what was happening. In 2019, when Michelin expanded to rate restaurants throughout all of California—not just the San Francisco area—Addison was the only one in San Diego to earn a star. But since emerging from the pandemic, the region’s food scene has grown dramatically. Driven by outstanding farms, ingredients, a bumper crop of talented chefs, and a G.D.P. approximately the size of New Zealand or Greece, San Diego County has become one of America’s most underrated dining destinations.
Perhaps no single restaurant is a better emblem for this shift than chef William Bradley’s Addison, which opened in 2006. After landing his first star, Bradley knew he wanted more. To get them, he transformed his French-leaning fare to serve what he calls California Gastronomy, which combines the cultures of SoCal with impeccable ingredients and wildly impressive techniques, prizing flavor over flair. Michelin responded, awarding Addison a second star in 2022, and making it the first Southern California three-star restaurant just a year later. The accolade has created a halo effect, attracting culinary tourists from around the world.
Berry beet tartlets at San Diego’s three-star stalwart Addison.
Eric Wolfinger
“Earning three stars forces the global dining community to pay attention to a place that may not have been on their radar before,” says chef Eric Bost, a partner in Resnick’s four Carlsbad establishments.
Resnick recruited Bost, who spent time at award-winning outposts of Restaurant Guy Savoy, to run Jeune et Jolie, which he led to a star in 2021. They’ve since taken over an old boogie-board factory down the street and converted it to an all-day restaurant and bakery, Wildland. The space also hosts an exquisite tasting-counter experience called Lilo, which was given a Michelin star mere months after opening in April 2025. And as Resnick and Bost grew their successful Carlsbad operation, chef Roberto Alcocer earned a Michelin star for his Mexican fine-dining spot Valle in nearby Oceanside.
The stylish tasting counter at Michelin one-star Lilo in Carlsbad.
Kimberly Motos
About 25 miles to the south, another affluent coastal community is going through its own culinary glow up. In La Jolla, chef Tara Monsod and the hospitality group Puffer Malarkey Collective opened the stylish French steakhouse Le Coq. Chef Erik Anderson, formerly of Michelin two-star Coi, is preparing to launch Roseacre. And last year, Per Se alums Elijah Arizmendi and Brian Hung left New York to open the elegant tasting-menu restaurant Lucien, lured by the ingredients they’d get to serve. “A major reason we chose San Diego is the quality and diversity of the produce,” Arizmendi explains. “San Diego County has more small farms than anywhere else in the U.S., and its many microclimates allow farmers to grow an incredible range of ingredients year-round.”
Wildland’s spicy Italian sandwich.
Gage Forster
Chef Travis Swikard has also been a tireless advocate for the region’s ingredients since he returned to San Diego, his hometown, and opened Mediterranean-influenced Callie in 2021. There’s no sophomore slump with his latest effort, the French Riviera–inspired Fleurette in La Jolla, where he’s serving his take on classics like leeks vinaigrette and his San Diego “Bouillabaisse” with local red sheepshead fish and spiny lobster. Its food is bright, produce-driven, and attentive in execution, while the dining room maintains a relaxed and unpretentious style of service. And Swikard sees that approach cohering into a regional style with a strong network of professionals behind it.
“It’s really nice that we are developing our own identity, not trying to be like L.A. or any other market, just highlighting what’s great about the San Diego lifestyle and ingredients,” he says. “Similar to New York, a chef community is starting to develop where chefs are supporting each other. There is a true sense of pride to be cooking here.”
Top: In La Jolla, Lucien serves ocean whitefish with tomatoes turned into concasse, sabayon, and other expressions.
Authors
Little Debbie is officially expanding its doughnut range.
On April 14, the brand announced a new sweet snack: Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts. The company says there was “massive consumer demand” for the original Big Pack Old Fashioned Donuts, which quickly became a top seller. Now, they’re just giving the people what they want.
The new snack is a chocolate old-fashioned cake doughnut finished with a sweet glaze and is launching in two formats:
- The Big Pack Carton: This box contains six doughnuts in a retro-inspired package that reflects the brand’s heritage.
- Single-serve doughnuts: There are also 3-ounce, individually wrapped Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts, which the brand suggests pairing with a morning coffee or eating on a midday break.
The original, which includes six individually wrapped cake-style doughnuts with a vanilla glaze, first hit stores in June 2025 and, according to the brand, has been “consistently selling out.”
“We saw an incredible response to the Old Fashioned Donut we introduced last year,” said Scott Brownlow, Little Debbie’s brand manager, in a press release. We’re doubling down on what works and giving both loyalists and new fans an irresistible reason to head back to the store.”
Little Debbie’s Chocolate Old Fashioned Donuts are rolling out now to major retailers, grocery stores and convenience stores nationwide. As with the original Old Fashioned Donut, they become a permanent addition to the brand’s snack lineup.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
The Padres will soon have a new owner, as billionaire José E. Feliciano is reportedly close to acquiring the franchise. San Diego will be watching him closely. He has a lot to live up to.
Back in November, the current ownership group led by late owner Peter Seidler’s brother, John, announced the family would begin the process of selling the team. Just five months later, Feliciano has reportedly outbid three other billionaires to secure ownership of the franchise. The final sale price will be $3.9 billion, shattering the previous MLB record. If the deal goes through as expected, Feliciano will be compelled to match not only the price tag, but also the commitment San Diego’s fans have made over the last decade.
When Peter Seidler took over as the team’s chairman and primary owner in November 2020, he set about rebuilding the franchise into one that could compete at the highest level of baseball. He spent lavishly, locking up players to massive contracts and blowing past the luxury tax threshold, while also investing in the San Diego community and openly proclaiming that turning a profit wasn’t his goal. The Padres followed by having the most successful sustained stretch in their history, reaching the postseason in four of the last six years. Seidler’s driving ambition was to deliver San Diego its first major sports championship. The team’s fans responded by matching his passion.
A better product on the field led to a packed Petco Park. The Padres have finished in the top five of attendance in each of the past five seasons, culminating in an remarkable 2025 campaign when the team sold out 72 of its 81 home games and welcomed a record 3.47 million fans through their gates. San Diego finished second in attendance last season, behind only the World Series champion Dodgers.
Seidler’s investment paid off. In 2025, the Padres reportedly generated around $500 million in revenue despite a relatively disadvantageous television deal. Unfortunately, Seidler never got to see it. He died in November 2023 at the age of 63 from an infection related to a compromised immune system following multiple battles with cancer. The Padres have played in his memory, and the team’s supporters have carried his goal with them.
That kind of fan support deserves another owner willing to invest not only in the team, but also in the city. John Seidler and the rest of the ownership group were never going to be those people. To their credit, they seem to know that.
Peter Seidler had a boundless passion for the Padres. His brother John has never quite shared it, at least not publicly. The ownership group purchased the team for a reported $800 million in 2012 and is selling for $3.9 billion. Cashing out now makes sense. There’s an enormous “but” coming.
Feliciano has to know what he’s getting into by following in Seidler’s footsteps. Padres fans are far more active than they once were and have proven their commitment for years. The team’s new owner needs to be genuinely invested and ready to finish what Peter Seidler started. Feliciano doesn’t just owe that to his memory. He owes it to every fan who’s packed Petco Park believing San Diego was finally on the precipice of its first World Series title.
The Padres’ new owner isn’t a stranger to sports franchise ownership. Feliciano is the co-founder and managing partner of Clearlake Capital, which was part of a consortium that purchased Chelsea FC in 2022 for roughly $5.25 billion. Despite a heavy financial investment to the roster, the results in London have ultimately failed to meet the competitive standard established by the previous regime.
From Feliciano’s viewpoint, the upside of purchasing the Padres isn’t hard to see. Petco Park is one of baseball’s premier venues and boasts an atmosphere that rivals any in American sports. The team’s TV deal should improve dramatically with MLB’s next collective bargaining agreement. Then there’s the location. San Diego is one of America’s crown-jewel cities, and its eighth-largest by population. The weather is perfect year-round, the fanbase is passionate and the market has proven it will show up for a quality product. There’s only one thing missing.
Feliciano has won the bidding war for the Padres. Now comes the hard part. He must be passionately invested in delivering a long-awaited World Series championship to San Diego. This franchise carries too much potential to be a billionaire’s vanity project. Peter Seidler proved that when he put his all into making that happen, and the city showed up for him.
Now it’s Feliciano’s turn to show up for the city.
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